The loss of a cherished loved one is, perhaps, the most difficult experience we ever have to face. Very few of us are truly prepared for the enormity of such a loss. When faced with overpowering loss and pain, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. We sometimes feel as though our entire world has fallen apart. It is difficult to concentrate or be confident about the decisions we make. We can feel alone even though we’re in a crowd of thousands. Although everyone grieves differently, the need for understanding, compassion and support after a loss is universal.
At Maison funéraire Lessard-Stephens Funeral Home, we understand that coping with the loss of a loved one is extremely challenging. We have therefore implemented bereavement services as part of our continuum of care for the families we serve, as well as for those in the community who have experienced the loss of someone close.
Lynne Lessard, the funeral home’s Grief Consultant, is dedicated to provide care and support to bereaved families, as well as to educate the community on grief. She acknowledges and respects that each loss is unique, and utilizes a personalized approach to meet individual needs. Lynne is available to give presentations on different topics related to grief, to groups of all ages. She also offers consultations to caregivers and professionals who work with bereaved children and adults. Since joining the funeral home, Lynne has initiated and developed a grief resource centre. Following is a list of resources available through our funeral home.
- AfterLoss Grief Recovery Program. Families receive a monthly 8-page helpletter which gently guides them, step-by-step, through the grieving process toward recovery. AfterLoss was created to offer knowledge and insight that promotes a better understanding of grief, and to provide a valuable and helpful resource for the newly grieving people. The easy-to-read format also provides tools needed to successfully manage the grieving periods that are so much a part of every life. www.afterloss.com.
- The Grief Resource Lending Library consists of books geared for children and adults, covering a wide array of topics related to grief.
- A variety of brochures and booklets, covering topics related to grief and recovery are available to all interested.
- Video presentations such as Children and Grief, Understanding Grief and How to Help the Bereaved are available to groups of all ages.
- Lynne offers Bereavement Programs geared for small groups of children and adolescents. The programs are developed by professional Grief Counsellors to assist children and youth in their grief journey.
- Lynne is also available to assist small or large groups for Crisis Intervention when the death of a student or a staff member occurs unexpectedly.
We invite you to contact us to discuss any of the grief resources that might be of interest to you. If we do not have what you are looking for, it would be our pleasure to find it.
Following is a list of websites of different organizations which we consider to be very helpful when dealing with the loss of a loved one. Our funeral home is pleased to be associated with these very resourceful groups. We hope they can be of assistance to you.
Links
AfterLoss – Learning how to cope with grief
www.afterloss.com
Grief Journey
www.griefjourney.com
Horizon-Timmins Palliative Care Inc.
Tel : (705) 267-3434
www.nt.net/~dioctims/horizoneng.html
Perinatal Bereavement Services Ontario
www.pbso.ca
Bereavement Ontario Network
www.bereavementontarionetwork.ca
